A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.
Sapper Eustace Graham Keogh
Born: 24 April 1899 Rutherglen. Died: 9 November 1981 Melbourne.
Enlisted: 10 May 1916 aged 18.
Served: Mesopotamia (Iraq), Persia (Iran) and Kurdistan.
Dr Eustace Keogh served as Berwick Shire’s Health Officer from 1908 until late 1910. Earlier, as a boy, he attended St Patrick’s School before the family moved to Footscray.
In May 1916 Eustace enlisted in the Army and subsequently served as a driver supporting the Royal Flying Corps in Mesopotamia (Iraq), Persia (Iran) and Kurdistan during British operations against the Ottoman Empire.
After the War, Eustace rejoined the regular Army, making it his career.
During WWII, he saw active service again in the Middle East, where he was mentioned in dispatches for distinguished service. He also served in Greece and New Guinea, before being appointed to a senior training role.
He ended the War with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
After being demobilised from the Army, Eustace became editor of the Australian Army Journal and a leading Australian military historian and author.
In 1957, Eustace was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by HM The Queen.
This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com
